If it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Tony Kelley will live that dream for the eighth time this week.

The head golf professional at Wyckoff Country Club in Holyoke will tee it up again in the PGA Tour's Travelers Championship at Cromwell, Conn.

And his focus Thursday and Friday will be to treat his trip around TPC River Highlands as just another round of golf.

"It's great to be back, to play there again ... but to have a chance to make the cut, you really have to stay focused out there," Kelley said. "You try not to be distracted with everything. You really have to make yourself believe that no one else is out there."

So forget that newly crowned U.S. Open champion Lucas Glover will lead a field that includes the likes of Sergio Garcia and Vijay Singh.

Crowds in Cromwell, which were once second only to Phoenix in weekly attendance, are expected to be bigger this year.

"It can be tough, because you want to soak it all in because it's such a fun time," Kelley said. "It's a great atmosphere."

Kelley, 50, qualified last month after finishing as the low pro from the Connecticut Section PGA, when he won its Tournament of Champions at Indian Hill Country Club in Newington, Conn.

Kelley's "career" at the event long known as the GHO dates back 20 years, but he has not qualified since 2001. He is still looking to make his first 36-hole cut.

"You don't know how many more chances you'll have to get back there," Kelley said after qualifying. "The conditions there are great. The rough will be up, the greens are so fast - but they are perfect. They roll so well, so that won't bother me."

Kelley saw the new range at TPC River Highlands for the first time Monday, when he officially registered.

"I hit a few balls on the range ... it's beautiful," Kelley said. "Some guys were talking about how the old one (behind the clubhouse) was the worst on tour. Now, they have so much tee space, you can hit in any direction. There are targets everywhere. There is a great putting green, and a green for chipping."

Kelley opted not to play in a pro-am Monday, and said Tuesday would be the only day he could play a practice round.

"There is the big pro-am there Wednesday and we have a big tournament at the (Wyckoff) club that day," Kelley said. "It's actually a pretty crazy week here."

Kelley said his game is in good shape, although his playing schedule has been relatively light in recent weeks.

He said his left knee, which will require replacement surgery after the season, will not be a factor.

"It'll hold up, I'll play with it," Kelley said.

Kelley will have Wyckoff member Joe Briggs as a caddie this week.

"He knows the routine," Kelley said. "I haven't had him here, but he's been with me in Oregon, at the CPC (Club Professional Championship). He knows the game."

Kelley tees off Thursday at 1:45 p.m. off the 10th tee, and starts at 8:35 Friday morning at No. 1. He is paired with David Berganio Jr. and Gary Woodland.

The threesome plays four groups behind Zach Johnson and Boo Weekley.

Garcia starts at 7:42 a.m. at No. 10, while Singh has a 1:30 off the first tee.

QUALIFIED EFFORT: Mike Devlin Jr. of Elmcrest CC and Adam D'Amario of The Ranch GC each missed out at a four-spot open qualifier for the Travelers Championship earlier this week. Devlin shot a 75 at Bull's Bridge GC in South Kent, Conn., while D'Amario shot 77.

Medalist Martin Catalioto of Ramsey, N.J., used a hole-in-one and a front-nine 30 to post a 6-under 66. Three players at 68 played off for the final spot. The field included PGA Tour players Frank Lickliter and Robert Gamez.

DONOVAN NOTES: Matt Donovan, who held the first round lead at the Mass. Open this week, was in good company at a U.S. Open qualifier earlier this month.

Donovan competed at a 36-hole sectional qualifier at Columbus, Ohio, on June 8. He carded rounds of 70 and 66, but did not survive a nine-man playoff for the final spot.

Among the 17 qualifiers in the 120-player field were U.S. Open champion Lucas Glover, and second-place finishers David Duval and Ricky Barnes.

HIGH MARKS: Springfield's Lindsey Thomka tied for 70th in the Women's Eastern Amateur Championship at Stoney Creek GC in Wintergreen, Va. Isabella Lendl of Goshen, Conn., was the winner . . . Richy Werenski of South Hadley is ranked 57th in the Golfweek/Titleist International Junior golf rankings . . . Overlooked in the drama of Juli (Wightman) Erekson's near-miss in a 36-hole sectional qualifier for the U.S. Women's Open earlier this month was the 35-foot putt for eagle she made at her final hole to earn a spot in a playoff.